Age is catching up

im 68 have had a bad back for 45 years. in 2014 after suffering 2 years of severe pain, i had enough, in desperation i turned to pilates and chi gong, result, apart from the odd twinge im ok. i exercise ,walk. kettle bells and now eat healthily, im not in bad shape.

Get an electric bike for hills.

www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/14/scientists-find-humans-age-dramatically-in-two-bursts-at-44-then-60-aging-not-slow-and-steady?fbclid=IwY2xjawErRVFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVGWMW3pEs5TugUDjbdQS9xy5rjjuB88AbxNcokJQDCxlhUyd4H09bp9Rw_aem_cxyag-8U1l6mo4DhuROWMQ

Yes 57 is the prime of life. I’m 67 and feel very good, physically and mentally. I have an enquiring mind, so am always reading, listening to music, learning and walking in nature. I also have a good number of friends and spending time with them is very enjoyable ( although I’m selective now and avoid negative people.)

Not enough hours in the day for me (I’m retired after a lifetime of hard work) and have never been happier. I’m a recovering alcoholic and got sober a year ago and am now living a life beyond my wildest dreams. Peace of mind and fortunately a body that serves me well, despite the years of pouring poison down my throat. I know that illness and death are never far away but try to live in the day. My brother had aggressive cancer in his early fifties but recovered and gets so much from life. He’s an inspiration.

That's a really interesting article Llysfamgu - thanks for posting.
To have an aging process which mirrors the "growth spurts" of youth seems obvious when you think about it and definitely rings bells.

Get fit ready for your 80s if you aren't already!

LaCrepescule well done you for making it through a whole year! That is a milestone... every day is a new milestone though as you well know!

You should be proud of yourself. I hope you have many more years of good health, peace and sobriety!

Walking is good but cycling is better for you as you are putting pressure on your leg muscles strenthening them hopefully avoiding the getting up from sitting problem, climbing stairs, even getting in and out of a car. Keep cycling or for bad weather a home cycle or a visit to a gym. All exercise exerting pressure on your frame, especially muscles is good. Sitting for long periods and with a back problem you should seek expert advice, sure you will know this. A physio will be able to give advice, or even a gym instructor. Being involved with grandchildren can be exhausting but it does keep you stimulated mentally and physically. My GC are 12 and 13 now but I still take them places, attend their activities when I can ( they don't live nearby) and have them stay a while during holidays and I can add 20 years to your age!
They may seem hard work but just keep in mind they will grow away from you sooner than you think.

Please share the app name, im searching for something like that

By reading you comments I've realized even more then before, that someone is young in their 80s and someone is old at their 40s

You guys have such a young soul I'm now inspired to be way more active!

Hi Michealegl, like others have said you're still young really, I think 50 is the new 40, or maybe even 60 is? Backs can be an issue for a lot of people, many younger than you, I hear yoga and pilates are particularly helpful, maybe give them a go?
I'm 72 and healthy but not fit, I still work part time and haven't seen a GP in about 10 years. Started having a few problems and now 3 weeks on from a telephone consultation (with a GP I've never met as my previous one retired about 8 years ago) I've had blood tests, an ECG, heart scan and seen a Cardiologist. I've been diagnosed with AF and an irregular heartbeat and on 3 lots of medication - I feel like a drug addict!
It's quite a wake up call, especially as it's possible I may also have heart failure. So I've cut down on the wine, started some gentle exercise with an on line cardio rehab physio's app and will stop taking life and health for granted. I have 3 AC and 5 DGC, 17, 15, 13,11 and 4 months, plus my lovely hubby, sisters etc. I'm a bit taken aback that my travel insurer of many years won't cover me for anything to do with my heart condition so will have to look around as I'm far too young to give up on foreign travel - and besides my DD and family live in Spain! As they say old age isn't for wimps. not that I'm old yet you understand

What age it says you are on a paper is not really what counts, its how you feel that really matters. I have various problems but my back is the major one as it stops me doing various things and is something that affects me every day. So I pas on what I have learnt the hard way! I hate giving in and have kept trying to do things which made things worse and me miserable. So the really helpful thing is swimming, which I now try to do 2 or 3 times a week. At my pool they have a chair to put me in and get me out of the pool, which reduces pain levels especially getting out. The great thing about the pool is that you can move about much easier in water, so can try exercises and they often hurt less in water and also it allows me to move about and gently move and revolve wrists and knees etc . Over time I have built up to about 20-25 lengths but only do about 4 at a time. When I am in the deep end I drop down and raise my arms above my head. This lets me stretch in a way that I could not do now on land. So I see swimming as a good idea as you will loosen off painful muscles and get some freedom of movement. You can choose the amount of swimming you do, and also you will naturally get to know other swimmers over the time you go swimming. Then I make it into a treat by going for a coffee afterwards. As I dont sleep well I often am at the pool by about 6.45am and the pool opens at 7am. I might as well go swimming as sit here in pain. I come back feeling physically and mentally a bit better. Then for something totally different do you enjoy playing cards or dominoes? I have found a group and go once a week to a whist drive. It is enjoyable in itself but I have made it a habit, so that if I am in quite a lot of pain I still go , whereas without having that habit I would probably just stay at home. It can help put the pain to the back of your mind and you have the company and using your brain. So even i I dont feel great setting off, I am nearly always pleased that I went. If you have constant pain that you dont recognise where it has come from then I think it would be good to visit your doctor to rule out if there is anything that might be causing problems for you. I found that I was making things worse by thinking what might happen in the future and it is better to just think how to get the present moment improved and let the future take care of itself. Good luck and try whatever seems to be worth looking at to ou, and keep coming on here and everyone will be helpful to you . All the best

Congratulations LaCrepescule- that is a wonderful achievement.
And Michaelegl applause for you, also, on being inspired by the posters.
I take lots of good things away from GN, too.

Madeleine45 what a sensible and pragmatic attitude you have in a very dificult and debilating situation.